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The people of Aplah in the Manyo Krobo District of the Eastern region are living in fear of a possible outbreak of an epidemic over the heavy pollution of the only source of drinking water serving them and five other communities. According to the distressed residents, aside the contamination of the stream by waste and faecal matter, some insects have taken control over the water source. Due to the contaminated nature of the water, several members of the community have been afflicted with strange diseases which have drawn them deeper into a poverty laden vicious cycle. Speaking to the Daily Heritage in an interview, an opinion leader, Seth Ayernor, said one person has lost his life as a result of the infections suffered from drinking the heavily polluted water. He explained that the stream has been the water which his grandfathers tapped water from and lived several years before their demise and could not fathom why it was plaguing their health. He observed that because of the acute water shortage in the dry season, they walk about five miles to the source of the water to fill their barrels. He lamented that despite the river being riddled with pollution, they cannot help but to drink form it with their animals. �The water gives us sickness because that is what is available to the community. The animals suffer the same way as we do, but, there are traditional herbal medicines we use to cure our pains,� Ayernor posited. He intimated that there is no hospital in the area therefore, they travel long distances before accessing healthcare. He appealed to public-spirited individuals and non-governmental organisations to assist the community construct boreholes. Another concerned resident, Abrahm Asare Martey Korley, observed that the water situation in the area was worsening with the passing of each day. According to him, what makes the case worse is that, five other communities in the district also depend on this polluted water body for their entire livelihood and if an epidemic should break, the causality rate could be anyone�s guess. �The situation is unfortunate but we have no other means of getting water than to rely on the polluted water on daily basis,� he grieved. He stressed that the source of water supply to the community was fast turning into a river of death due to its high level of contamination.